Film

On March 31, 2017, Lakeshore Records had planned to release the score to the live action Ghost in the Shell film. The release was unfortunately cancelled for reasons unknown, and ever since that time fans have been signing a petition for its release on Change.org. At the time of writing the petition has garnered over 4000 signatures, whatever you think about petitions of these nature there is evidence that they do work. When the first Transformers film was released in 2007 there were no plans to release a score album, however this changed when a fan run online petition obtained over 5000 signatures. The score was composed by Clint Mansell and Lorne Balfe and details of the original planned release are available on the Video Game Music Database which reveals the extent of talented individuals that worked on the music.

In the video clip above you can listen to the lengthy piece titled “Tank Battle” which is featured in one of the film’s final action scenes. Composer Lorne Balfe has been consistently releasing two tracks every Friday as a means to help generate excitement over the score. He’s also released an unused alternate score for the film’s opening ‘Shelling Sequence’ which offers film score fans a look behind the scenes of crafting the music for the film.

A twitter account @gitsost has also been actively promoting the film’s score and been encouraging Paramount Pictures and Lakeshore Records to release the score. The film’s Director, Rupert Sanders was also recently interviewed by Neil Middlemiss for Home Theatre Forum and was asked about the score release:

Neil Middlemiss:You worked with Clint Mansell and Lorne Balfe on Ghost in the Shell. And the music in your films works so incredibly well. What is your working process like with the composers that you work with? And what on God’s Earth do we have to do in order to get a score release for Ghost in the Shell’s wonderful soundtrack done? Who do I need to call [laughter]?

Rupert Sanders:Well, we will endeavor to do something. I think it’s a valid point and I think a digital release is a fairly inexpensive way to do it. But I work with the musicians as closely as I work with so many of the other collaborators. And as a director, your role when working on that side of the film is to inspire and excite those people around you so they give their best work. You’re not in there telling them what key the opening should be in, but you’re trying to give them as much of your vision of the film sonically as possible, and guide them as much as possible so they understand what you’re trying to do. And that’s really the hardest thing, especially with music, because you can’t draw it. And it’s very hard when you’re not musical, like myself, to talk in phrases and musical expressions because I don’t really know many of them but I can draw the shit out of a prop house. But music is harder [and] I think it’s about getting people who are collaborative, who want to help you on the journey do something different, and I’m really proud of the originality of the score. And I will follow up, and I will make sure that there’s a release. And as soon as it’s released, we’ll email you a link [laughter].

Until the score is officially released I will continue to check out Lorne Balfe’s YouTube page every Friday for the latest tracks he’s shared. OSV will keep you updated if an official score released in announced.

The soundtrack to Ducktales The Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp has at long last been released on CD. Growing up it was one of my favorite Disney animated films, and the music was what made the film special. It is a large scale adventure score that has some nods to the theme from the TV series.

A favorite project of composer David Newman, who considered it, “Like a dream experience for me.” Newman was afforded considerable freedom to write what he felt was most appropriate without interference. “It was lovely.” Newman scores for a large orchestra, writes wall-to-wall music, including several lengthy sequences. Strong degree of musical architecture results. Music often twists and turns on a dime, racing forward, stopping suddenly for quick pauses then continuing onwards. Excitement is name of the game! Vibrant recording by Tim Boyle made at Evergreen Studios in Burbank over 6 days in June 1990. Entire album is presented in crisp stereo sound from complete digital 2-track scoring session masters with 3 additional cues derived from the 30 its Dolby SR-format analog mixes, all courtesy Walt Disney Records. John Takis provides descriptive liner notes, Kay Marshall fashions gorgeous, colorful “flipper” cover. Choose your favorite! David Newman composes, orchestrates, conducts. Intrada Special Collection CD available while quantities and interest remain!

Intrada Records

The CD is available for purchase directly from Intrada Records’ website for $21.99. I’ve already ordered my copy. Here’s hoping we’ll see more music from Ducktales released in the future.

Colosseum Music Entertainment is based in Germany, and has been selling soundtrack CDs for years. As of December 31, 2015 they will no longer be selling CDs and they have over 700 Soundtracks from many films and television series priced at 4.99 EURO (About $5.50USD). Shipping is free to German residents for orders over 25 EURO.

For USA and Canadian buyers, shipping for the first 7 CDs works is around 12.50 EURO. Once you get up to 8CDs the shipping cost doubles. There are many great soundtracks still available including some that are out of print. For myself I ordered a few including: Michael Kamen’s score to The Iron Giant, and Kung Fu Hustle by Raymond Wong and a few CDs with the music from the Lost TV series by Michael Giacchino.

On November 17, 2015, Intrada Records released on CD the complete soundtrack to the 1975 classic Jaws. The Oscar winning score by John Williams is one of the most iconic film scores of all time. Although its not a video game score, it is a very important release.

The soundtrack is spread across 2 CDs, with the first containing the original film score and some alternate takes, and the second disc containing the original 1975 separately recorded soundtrack and source music from Amity Town Beach. The album is available for $29.99.

With this release Intrada Records has now released all scores to the Jaws series including Jaws 2 also composed by John Williams, Jaws 3-D by Alan Parker, and Jaws The Revenge by Michael Small.

You can purchase all of the soundtracks of the Jaws series on Intrada’s website. I have ordered my copy, is this something you might pick up? Do you have any fond memories of the music from the Jaws series?

After Brenna posted her timely review of the Scythian Steppes remix album for Sword & Sworcery, I did a quick investigation into the OSV archives to see what else we’d reviewed related to the game and to Jim Guthrie.

Turns out, this was it.

For the rest of the week, we’ll be rectifying that problem. It’s Jim Guthrie week, ladies and gentlemen! And we’re starting with a new release: the soundtrack for “Indie Game: The Movie,” a documentary which chronicles the development of a few high-profile indie games, including FEZ, Braid, and Super Meat Boy.

Did Guthrie do justice to these film-makers and their timely subject of indie games? All that, and more, after the jump. (more…)

Covering and promoting discussion of composers and music with a focus on video games and other contemporary media entertainment

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